Homeless man rescued in West Side blaze, firefighter hurt

November 24, 2011|By Deanese Williams-Harris | Tribune reporter

A Chicago firefighter pokes his head out of a hole in the roof during a fire at a house on the 4000 block of West 16th Street in Chicago Thursday morning. A firefighter suffered minor injuries in the blaze, which authorities said was accidental. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) ((Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune))

A homeless man was rescued this morning and a firefighter suffered minor injuries in a blaze that broke out at a vacant building in the Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side, officials said.

Firefighters were called at about 6:30 a.m. to the two-story frame building at 4022 W. 16th St., said Fire Media spokesman Larry Langford.

A fire official at the scene said the homeless man tried to run away, but later decided to seek medical help. He was not injured.

The man was the only person inside the building when the fire started. Langford said the fire was being considered accidental.

A firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to Rush University Medical Center where he was expected to be treated and released, Langford said.